I'm opening this thread up again because I still suffer from this exact condition and, so far, nobody has mentioned any preventative action, let alone a possible cure!!!

I suffer from a 'camera-flash' spot in my eyes that eventually turn into blind spots. I have suffered from these for about 7 years now and have been able to just live with them until two weeks back, when I had one appear right in the centre of my vision.

I started with other symptoms about 2 months ago - skin numbness, left side weakness, dizziness. The vision problems started somewhere amongst all that. However the other problems have mostly gone now apart from some slight dizziness and balance issues.

I have had an mri and lumbar puncture at the hospital which came back normal. I went to the eye hospital where they found a bleed in each eye but could not suggest a cause for that.

As for my vision problems I have 2 blind spots in my left eye and one that appeared later in my right. The right one seems to unfortunately 'overlap' one of the left ones so that I see it with both eyes open. It is most noticeable when reading as the word below the one I am reading disappears, particularly if one eye is covered.

It's starting to really get me down now.

The following user gives a hug of support to 88Girl:ciaran (08-03-2012)

The Following User Says Thank You to 88Girl For This Useful Post:ciaran (08-03-2012)

Both of you could be having microemboli in your retinal vessels. They are tiny blood clots that break off sometimes from the heart or carotid arteries and lodge in the eye. An echocardiogram would be helpful to evaluate the heart valves where clots can form, a carotid doppler ultrasound, and some blood tests to see if you have a tendency to form clots. This is best done by a hematologist, and should include several things that can predispose one to clots. I would talk this possibility over with your opthalmolgist and see if he/she concurs with that possibility.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ladybud For This Useful Post:88Girl (08-06-2012), ciaran (08-03-2012)

It's incredibly challenging for me to get up and smile each day as the first thing I find myself doing is noticing the spots. Unfortunately for me, my latest 'blank' or 'blind' spot (which came on two weeks ago) is just to the right of the centre of vision in my right eye. This makes most things incredibly annoying like when reading because part of the word I am reading is 'missing'.

I have my ophthalmologist appointment on Wednesday.

I have had this condition for 7 or 8 years now and have been able to live with it until this most recent episode as it is so close to the centre of my vision. I find myself getting eye-strain headaches as I am always trying 'not' to see it. But it is just so difficult not to see it.

When I saw my ophthalmologist 7 or 8 years ago when these started, I had every test possible. After my MRI, my neurologist just put it down to complicated migraines and basically said, 'there's nothing that can be done, just get on with your life' which was easier to accept when the spot wasn't in the centre of my vision.

It's incredibly challenging for me to get up and smile each day as the first thing I find myself doing is noticing the spots. Unfortunately for me, my latest 'blank' or 'blind' spot (which came on two weeks ago) is just to the right of the centre of vision in my right eye. This makes most things incredibly annoying like when reading because part of the word I am reading is 'missing'.

I have my ophthalmologist appointment on Wednesday.

I have had this condition for 7 or 8 years now and have been able to live with it until this most recent episode as it is so close to the centre of my vision. I find myself getting eye-strain headaches as I am always trying 'not' to see it. But it is just so difficult not to see it.

When I saw my ophthalmologist 7 or 8 years ago when these started, I had every test possible. After my MRI, my neurologist just put it down to complicated migraines and basically said, 'there's nothing that can be done, just get on with your life' which was easier to accept when the spot wasn't in the centre of my vision.

Anyways... I'll let you know how things go on Wednesday!

Take care and hopefully we can all keep each other a little happier!

Ciaran - pronounced Kieren, by the way!

go on the web and look up,"symptoms of ocular migraines" and another one with similar symptoms is "retinal detachment". see if either of these matches your symptoms. another condition that has the same symptoms is a loss of vitreous gel in the eye caused by severe dryness.

Last edited by boobootwo; 08-03-2012 at 10:11 PM.
Reason: addition

The Following User Says Thank You to boobootwo For This Useful Post:ciaran (08-04-2012)

Both of you could be having microemboli in your retinal vessels. They are tiny blood clots that break off sometimes from the heart or carotid arteries and lodge in the eye. An echocardiogram would be helpful to evaluate the heart valves where clots can form, a carotid doppler ultrasound, and some blood tests to see if you have a tendency to form clots. This is best done by a hematologist, and should include several things that can predispose one to clots. I would talk this possibility over with your opthalmolgist and see if he/she concurs with that possibility.

Thanks I will definitely discuss this with my opthamologist when I see him. I always have cold hands and feet so I have thought for a while that I may have a circulation problem. That could possibly also cause problems for other parts of the body. Maybe I'll take aspirin until I see the opthamologist next in case it is that.

Well I went to the opthalmologist again. There were some spots missing from my field of vision but they couldn't find any cause for it. Also the bleeds I had have gone now. I'm going to the neurologist on Monday so will have to discuss with him I guess, although I don't think it will come to much as my mri and lp were normal. So frustrating.

The following user gives a hug of support to 88Girl:ciaran (08-09-2012)

Hi Ciaran I am wondering if you have progressed anywhere with your problem yet. I saw the opthalmologist again on Friday and he did another field of vision test specifically for the central vision and this showed up my blind spots exactly. I am now waiting for an appointment to have an injection of dye which will allow them to check for inflammation and leakages in the back of my eye.

They said maybe it could be an autoimmune disease or some sort of infection. I have other neurological symptoms as well.

The following user gives a hug of support to 88Girl:ciaran (08-28-2012)

Hi 88Girl. All tests including OCT, CT Scan, MRI have all come back normal, thank God! No change in symptoms... I'm religious so am putting my trust and faith in Jesus. He helps remove a lot of the anxiety. Are you religious? Praying really helps and keeps you calm. Gives you hope with things science cannot.

I have the same problem, and have had these d@mn bright arcs when blinking for 5 years. A couple of times, they turned into blind spots for a few days, but went right back to flashing lights when I blink. I have been to 3 retinal specialists who find nothing wrong. This is insanely frustrating. I don't know to get a victrectomy or if laser would help, anyone?

The following user gives a hug of support to lula22:ciaran (09-02-2012)

In autoimmune disease, some people have anti-phospholipid antibodies that predispose them to forming clots. That is one of the blood tests I referred to in a previous post. These can present as tiny blood clots in the retinal arteries, causing exactly your symptoms with resultant blind spots. Your opthalmologist could order that blood test, also known as anti-cardiolipin antibodies. If not your PCP could order it. If present, sometimes something as simple as a baby aspirin a day prevents the clots. I have lupus and have several blind spots from this and have had no more since starting the aspirin.

Thanks for answering. I just got back from retinal specialist #2 for the third exam and he didn't offer anything for treatment. Just same ol' answer, "well, you probably have a partial PVD, the flashes could go away tonight, or in 20 years". Wow, really? I am not going to wait 20, 10, or even 1 year longer, it's been 5 years already!

How often are your flashes? Mine are every time I blink pretty much, sometimes with 3 consecutive flashes in a row. I see them with my eyes open, depending on the light source, and now I see them with my eyes closed! I know it's my messed up vitreous, but why can't they remove it!?

The following user gives a hug of support to lula22:ciaran (09-08-2012)